Improvement in gun-locks



E. F'. B UR ROWS.

Improvement in Gun-Lociks.

'"Patented Oct. 1, 1 872.

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EDMUND F. BURROWS, OF MYSTIC RIVER, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN GUN-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,845, dated October 1, 1872.

To all whom ttmay concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND F. BURROWS, residing at Mystic River, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have in vented a certain Improvement in Gun-Locks, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide means which shall prevent the premature or accidental explosions of fire-arms; and my improvement consists in the employment of a secondary trigger or detent, which engages with notches in the tail of the hammer on cooking it, and which must first be operated before the hammer can be tripped by pulling the trigger.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pistol, portion of the stock being broken away to expose my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the hammer detached. Fig. 3 is asectional detail view of the secondary trigger or detent.

The same letters of reference are employed in all the figures in the designation of identical parts.

The annexed drawing illustrates my improvement as applied to a single-barrel breechloading pistol, butit may,'of course, be added to all other kinds of fire-arms. The secondary trigger or dctent passes transversely through the checks of the look, its stem A projecting at the left side through the cheek to receive a knob or thumb-piece, at. Its other end is constructed with a bit, 12, which projects over the face of the tail of the hammer B, and engages with one or the other of the notches b and 1) formed therein, when the hammer is being cocked. The secondary trigger is actuated by a spring, so arranged that it shall hold the bit of the trigger in forcible contact with the face of the tail of the hammer, and cause its engagement with the notches therein when the hammer is oscillated. In the example shown,

a helical spring, C, is employed, encircling the stem A, and bearing with its ends, respectively, against the thumb-piece a and the oppo- -site check of the lock. Any other suitable style of spring may be substituted for the one shown, as occasion may dictate. The notch b is so located that the bit of the secondary trigger will engage with it the moment the hammer is raised a trifle from the cartridge, while its notch b is entered by the bit of said trigger at full-cock. To trip the hammer by the ordinary trigger, it becomes necessary to release it first from the secondary trigger, which is accomplished by pressing upon the thumb-piece thereof; and the pressure must be continued until the hammer has struck the cartridge, for, if released sooner, the secondary trigger will catch the hammer by falling into the notch b and prevent its reaching the cartridge. As accidental explosions are sometimes caused by a. blow upon the hammer when in contact with the cartridge, it is recommended that the hammer, in carrying loaded fire-arms, be drawn back a little until it becomes locked, with its notch 11 to the secondary trigger.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a gun-lock, thecombination, substantially as herein shown, of the hammer, an ordinary trigger, and a supplemental or secondary trigger, whereby the hammer is automatically locked and held back until released by operating, first, the supplemental, and then the main trigger, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDMUND F. BURROWS. Witnesses:

T. A. AVERY,

J. H. ALEXANDER. 

